Most victims had to be identified from DNA samples and dental records.

Just after 01:00 local time on Saturday morning, an unattended runaway train carrying 7.7m litres of petroleum crude oil barrelled into Lac-Megantic at 65 mph (104 km/h) and jumped the tracks near the centre of town.

It slammed to a stop and erupted in flames. The ensuing inferno destroyed most of the lakeside town's downtown core.

Twenty-seven children lost parents, over 2,000 people were evacuated and dozens of homes were destroyed.

Over 40 buildings were razed - including the public library - and millions of litres of oil seeped into the soil and the nearby Chaudiere river.

"But it's clear to me the main shareholder, MMA, are not here. Transport Canada is not here. Transport Canada have let cheap companies run railroads in Canada with less money for more profit instead of acting or security," he said.

After the trial, Jean Clusiault told journalist that railway executives, not the three employees "should have sat in the bench of the accused".

Image copyrightCoutesy Lac-Megantic Image caption
Millions of dollars have been spent on the reconstruction

The criminal negligence case against the three railway workers has drawn to a close but other legal battles related to the rail disaster are far from over.

MMA, now defunct, is also facing criminal negligence charges and will stand trial at a later date.

The company has pleaded not guilty.

A joined class-action lawsuit on behalf of about 6,000 people and companies affected by the tragedy, the Quebec government, and insurance companies - targeting Canadian Pacific - is due in court in 2019.

The railway company handed off the train carrying the Bakken oil to MMA that July.

Canadian Pacific denies any responsibility in the disaster.

In 2015 the federal government laid charges under the Railway Safety Act and the Fisheries Act against a handful of former railway employees, including Harding, Demaitre and ex-railway president Robert Grindrod.